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Coronavirus Emergency Management Best Practices

COVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation. We've compiled the best practices and lessons learned that communities have already faced fighting COVID-19. This collection is not exhaustive, but we will continue to add content and highlight key are
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Case Studies

Community Innovations

Helping People

Government Operations

Private Sector

Recovery Planning

Medical Supplies

We encourage all emergency managers to review our latest COVID-19 fact sheets for details on federal assistance programs and guidelines.

Organizations can email best practices or lessons learned to fema-cipsupport@fema.dhs.gov.

FEMA does not endorse any non-government entities, organizations, or services. Claims made by third parties have not been independently verified by FEMA.

Stay Informed

Get the latest public health information on coronavirus at www.coronavirus.gov.

Case Studies

View our collection of key findings and considerations for jurisdictions and communities regarding ongoing COVID-19 pandemic operations across the country. They cover topics such as:

  • Food Banks
  • Government Engagement with Citizens
  • Considerations for People with Disabilities
  • Community Emergency Response Teams
  • Volunteer Management

View All Case Studies

Community Innovations

Many communities are responding to COVID-19 in innovative ways that highlight the best of American ingenuity.

  • An Alabama-based company creates custom-made, digitally-fitted masks that meld to every contour of a person's face.
  • A new platform matches elder or immunocompromised residents in Oakland, CA, with low-risk volunteers who can help them during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The University of Oregon's Institute for Health in the Built Environment is piloting the incorporation of regular testing of building surfaces and air ducts for the virus.

View All Community Innovation Stories

Helping People

  • Disability Considerations (NEW)
    This document provides guidance to state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments on how best to ensure that people with disabilities have adequate access to goods and services during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
  • Library Support
    This document describes how public libraries are supporting local government partners, healthcare workers, and emergency responders by providing access to facilities and internet access to safely continue operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Connecting Consumers with Local Food
    This document describes how, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic hampers traditional farming and threatened food supply chains raising concerns about widespread food shortages and price increases, countries, cities, and private citizens have begun to expand local food production through family and community gardens to supplement forecasted disruption to supply chains.
  • Sustaining Nutritional Needs for At-Risk Individuals
    Millions of Americans rely on a range of at-home and community-based food services. Sustain and expand home delivered meal programs to meet nutritional needs of at-risk individuals.

View All Helping People Best Practices

Other "Helping People" Resources

Government Operations

  • The Louisiana State University NCBRT (NEW)
    A nationally recognized center for emergency management training, has developed a range of COVID-19 resources and trainings for emergency responders that can be completed online.
  • Natural Hazards Preparedness
    This document describes recommendations and best practices for state, local, tribal, and territorial officials when managing the risks posed simultaneously by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and natural hazards.
  • Government Engagement with Citizens
    This document discusses the methods through which jurisdictions have been assessing constituent needs to inform response efforts and identify relevant pieces of information to share with their communities.
  • Pandemic Operational Guidance 
    To help emergency managers and public health officials prepare for the 2020 hurricane season and other disasters during COVID-19.

View All Government Operations Best Practices

Other "Government Operations" Resources

Private Sector And Infrastructure

  • Nuclear Industry Response
    This document is a list of key findings and considerations for jurisdictions and communities regarding use of Nuclear medical technology applications and Nuclear energy during the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic operations.
  • Longer-Term Business Reopening
    This document discusses the strategies, supported by guidance from federal, state, and local governments, that businesses across various sectors can implement to protect employees and customers from COVID-19 as businesses begin phased reopening.
  • Re-Orienting Business Production
    Companies across industries repurposed their production capabilities to support the response to the coronavirus pandemic disease (COVID-19).

View All Private Sector And Infrastructure Best Practices

Recovery Planning and Implementation

  • Unemployment Insurance
    This document highlights some examples of strategies states and territories have implemented to help individuals file unemployment insurance claims.
  • Reconstitution Planning
    Organizations across the nation are grappling with when and how to resume operations while protecting the well-being and safety of their employees and communities.
  • Financial Management
    The recently released Disaster Financial Management Guide can help a jurisdiction successfully use all available federal resources for disaster recovery, including the COVID-19 Supplemental Funding.
  • Environmental and Historic Preservation
    Identify emergency protective measures for COVID-19 that may adversely affect natural, historic, and/or archaeological resources. Learn how to comply with environmental and historic preservation laws, regulations, and executive orders.

View All Recovery Planning And Implementation Best Practices

Other "Recovery Planning and Implementation" Resources

Medical Supplies And Equipment

Other "Medical Supplies And Equipment" Resources

Last updated February 23, 2021